Outrage and irony over water

Published: Friday, May 3, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 7:24 p.m.

As in the old blues standard “You Got To Reap What You Sow” (Tampa Red, 1929), the city of Asheville is paying for its past behavior with state legislation that passed this week. At least that’s how Republican legislators see it.

The General Assembly gave final approval Wednesday to a bill merging the city’s water system with sewer systems in Buncombe and Henderson counties. If the bill is signed by Gov. Pat McCrory as expected, the new Metropolitan Water and Sewerage District takes effect May 15.

Legislators say the merger will save the average ratepayer in Henderson County about $120 per year and give the county a greater voice in regional water decisions. But Asheville is likely to sue to stop the state from depriving it of sole control of its water system.

Sen. Martin Nesbitt, D-Buncombe, called the legislation, and another law passed last year to expand governance of Asheville Regional Airport, “outrageous behavior.”

“Those of us in the mountains don’t do this to each other,” Nesbitt fumed. “If we go into one another’s counties and take stuff from each other, there’s no end to it.”

That’s exactly how Henderson and Transylvania county residents felt when Asheville commissioned a study of possible sites for dams and reservoirs to quench the city’s thirst 23 years ago.

One of the beauties of newspapers is how they provide a record of public matters. Since the public Internet just turned 20 this week, one has go back to some rather yellowed newspaper clippings to find the records, but they tell the story. A May 25, 1990, Times-News article explains that Asheville was looking at 10 potential water supplies, including the Mills River in Henderson County and the Davidson River in Transylvania County. Another article from Sept. 1, 1990, headlined “Idea to dam river dropped,” explains an outcome.

It seems residents of Mills River and Transylvania County, having fought off earlier proposals by the behemoth TVA to dam their rivers, protested Asheville’s plan to, as Nesbitt put it, “go into (other) counties and take stuff.” Asheville dropped its study, but not due to some epiphany of neighborly spirit. Rather, the General Assembly passed a law specifically prohibiting governments from condemning property in other counties without local consent.

Shortly thereafter, Asheville offered to enter into a “regional water authority” with Henderson County. The county allowed the city to build a $33 million drinking water plant and lines on the Mills River. In exchange, the city was supposed to extend water lines in the Mills River and Fletcher area. When the city balked, that agreement fell apart, leading to litigation and more ill will.

There’s a strong argument to be made that the General Assembly is overreaching and setting a poor precedent in taking control of Asheville’s water system without compensation. The courts almost certainly will decide the matter. But whether you call it reaping what you sow, karma or plain old comeuppance, it’s hard to shed tears for Asheville given the city’s past dealings with its neighbors.

<p>As in the old blues standard You Got To Reap What You Sow (Tampa Red, 1929), the city of Asheville is paying for its past behavior with state legislation that passed this week. At least that’s how Republican legislators see it.</p><p>The General Assembly gave final approval Wednesday to a bill merging the city’s water system with sewer systems in Buncombe and Henderson counties. If the bill is signed by Gov. Pat McCrory as expected, the new Metropolitan Water and Sewerage District takes effect May 15.</p><p>Legislators say the merger will save the average ratepayer in Henderson County about $120 per year and give the county a greater voice in regional water decisions. But Asheville is likely to sue to stop the state from depriving it of sole control of its water system.</p><p>Sen. Martin Nesbitt, D-Buncombe, called the legislation, and another law passed last year to expand governance of Asheville Regional Airport, outrageous behavior.</p><p>Those of us in the mountains don’t do this to each other, Nesbitt fumed. If we go into one another’s counties and take stuff from each other, there’s no end to it.</p><p>That’s exactly how Henderson and Transylvania county residents felt when Asheville commissioned a study of possible sites for dams and reservoirs to quench the city’s thirst 23 years ago.</p><p>One of the beauties of newspapers is how they provide a record of public matters. Since the public Internet just turned 20 this week, one has go back to some rather yellowed newspaper clippings to find the records, but they tell the story. A May 25, 1990, Times-News article explains that Asheville was looking at 10 potential water supplies, including the Mills River in Henderson County and the Davidson River in Transylvania County. Another article from Sept. 1, 1990, headlined Idea to dam river dropped, explains an outcome.</p><p>It seems residents of Mills River and Transylvania County, having fought off earlier proposals by the behemoth TVA to dam their rivers, protested Asheville’s plan to, as Nesbitt put it, go into (other) counties and take stuff. Asheville dropped its study, but not due to some epiphany of neighborly spirit. Rather, the General Assembly passed a law specifically prohibiting governments from condemning property in other counties without local consent.</p><p>Shortly thereafter, Asheville offered to enter into a regional water authority with Henderson County. The county allowed the city to build a $33 million drinking water plant and lines on the Mills River. In exchange, the city was supposed to extend water lines in the Mills River and Fletcher area. When the city balked, that agreement fell apart, leading to litigation and more ill will.</p><p>There’s a strong argument to be made that the General Assembly is overreaching and setting a poor precedent in taking control of Asheville’s water system without compensation. The courts almost certainly will decide the matter. But whether you call it reaping what you sow, karma or plain old comeuppance, it’s hard to shed tears for Asheville given the city’s past dealings with its neighbors.</p>